Battletech - Star League Defense Force

[Weird-O]

Been working on my Star League collection for a long time, in dribs and drabs. I think I've actually broken the halfway point, but more importantly, I've actually gotten one of the component companies of my 146th Dragoon Regiment army finished. So without further ado, here's my command company:

 

 

The Black Knight is a very popular and effective machine for SLDF commanders that still find themselves on the actual battlefield on a regular basis. The Command 'Mech quirk aids in doing the actual job of command, while the 'mech's legendary toughness and solid firepower do a good job at keeping said commander alive during trouble and eliminating that trouble, respectively. The Mackie and Guillotine are no-nonsense bodyguards, with one being a giant imposing brute to draw fire(and eliminate it), while the other is a maneuverable brute to outflank attackers(and eliminate them). The Falcon provides local reconnaissance, and a mobile threat to keep headhunters wary. It should be noted that the presence of two Beagle Probes makes this a very hard lance to ambush, allows the commander to monitor several remote sensors simultaneously, and(in Alpha Strike) spot for very accurate artillery support.

 

Though part of the Command Lance, the fifth member rarely fights alongside them, instead being told by his boss to take his Exterminator and "Go thataway *gestures vaguely in the direction of the enemy* and be a pain in someone else's behind." He then proceeds to do exactly that, seeking out supply caches, convoys, and other soft targets to hit. The 146th is not a Royal regiment, so it is very unlikely that this mech is one of those equipped with the stealth systems that make Exterminators so famous, so actually taking on enemy command lances is unlikely except in the most favorable conditions.

 

Second Lance is a much less subtle formation, existing solely to bring the larger two members of the lance to the battlefield.

 

 

The two Sniper pieces carried by Helepolis BattleMechs don't represent the most powerful artillery battery out there, but mounting them on mechs does provide them with notable advantages. They can move through any terrain other mechs can, allowing them to keep up with their compatriots even in situations where vehicular or towed guns would get left behind. The armor and conventional firepower of a Helepolis means they don't need near as Mich of an escort as other batteries. Finally, their armor makes them better able to handle counter-battery fire. While I wouldn't try to sit still and engage in an artillery duel, being able to tank even a Long Tom hit or two before being forced to move can make a big difference when your side is depending on every shell you can send downrange.

 

After all that, the other two mechs might almost seem like afterthoughts, but the Kintaro makes for an effective and mobile bodyguard(especially when its NARC boosts the effectiveness of the Helepolis's own weapons), and the Hermes' flamer can create smoke cover. It is also an excellent scout/spotter, being one of the fastest mechs in the unit.

 

I say "one of", because every mech in this next lance easily claims that title by a huge margin.

 

 

You want recon, here's your recon. Two Phoenix Hawks, one Stinger and one Wasp make for a deadly quartet of LAMs, able to perform scout or strike missions all along a HUGE battlefield. They cannot engage in pitched combat against ground or air forces, but their mere presence means that opposing forces cannot leave anything unguarded, lest it be destroyed as quickly as it is found. If I'm using the WSP-100 model, then in permissive air environments the Wasp can circle the battlefield at high altitude, using a TAG pod in the bomb bay to light up targets for guided munitions.